People of Distinction: Nonprofit of the year: USO, Greater Los Angeles area

Each year, more than 100,000 men and women in the country's military service branches - or retired members- pass through three of Southern California's airports. Some are returning from serving in Afghanistan, others may be heading with their family to a foreign base.

All of those men and women have a home away from home waiting for them at the airport, courtesy of the United Service Organization Greater Los Angeles Area - and the entire operation is run by five staff members working with 507 volunteers.

The USO GLAA has received the People of Distinction Award in the Nonprofit category.

The local USO chapter is headed by Executive Director Bob Kurkjian, a Navy reserve officer who served two tours in the Middle East and one in the Gulf of Aden.

"Our mission is to lift the spirits of troops and their families in the area, which encompasses all of Southern California except for San Diego," said Kurkjian, who became executive director in April. "We are at LAX, Ontario and Palm Springs providing free food, Internet, nonalcoholic drinks, a place to shower and to relax or to take a nap. There are also family rooms."

The managers of the three airport centers all began as USO volunteers.

Barbara Musella coordinates 200 volunteers at LAX, Gail Oyler works with another 200 people in Ontario and Stephanie Grudberg manages the center Palm Springs. The fifth staffer is accountant Joan Graham.

The USO works with local bases as well, and it still remains a source of celebrity entertainment for the troops, following in the footsteps of longtime USO supporter Bob Hope. A recent concert starred Gavin DeGraw.

A lesser-known service that USO provides is its Families of the Fallen committee. When the remains of a service member killed overseas come back through the airport, trained volunteers are with the family during the entire process.

Loyalty among volunteers means there is a waiting list to join the assistance team, and many have been part of USO for several years.

"We have one set of volunteers who are both bakers," Kurkjian said. "Every month they each choose a type of cookie to bake independent of each other, and they have a friendly competition to see which cookie people like the most.

"We have such good food. I have gained 15 pounds in the last six months, so now I have a deal where if any volunteer catches me eating a pastry - cookie bake-off excluded - then I have to put $10 in the donation jar."

All dollars donated make a difference, Kurkjian explained, because the USO receives no government funding.

"Our funds are raised by patriotic Americans and corporations," Kurkjian said. "And we stretch every dollar we receive as far as we can."

Kurkjian said USO GAA plans to expand its support in the coming years through other programs, but its focus will always be on caring for the men and women who serve their country, along with their families.